Roof deck support and attaching means



Dec. 31, 1963 N. BECKER ROOF DECK SUPPORT AND ATTACHING MEANS Filed July 29. 1960 IN VE N TOR Mm fizz/fer,

A TTOR /VEY United States Patent 3,115,728 ROOF DECK SUPPORT AND ATTACHING MEANS Nathan Becker, Miami, Fla, assignor to Seaview Industries, Inc., Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed July 29, 1960, Ser. No. 46,241 2 fllaims. (Cl. 50-199) This invention relates generally to roof structure and particularly to metallic roofs such as are used for marquees, patio covers, space ports, car ports and other similar structure.

These roof structures are usually made of relatively thin metal and are supported by suitable posts or pilasters in their elevated positions, and include rafters which connect the side fascia together and in turn support the metallic roof panels which usually extend at right angles to the rafters and from end to end of the structure. The rafters rigidly connect with the side fascia while the end members are rigidly connected to the extremities of the side fascia, thus providing a rigid frame work of relatively light material but possessing suflicient strength to withstand all normal strains and pressures to which the structure may be subjected.

-In attaching the roof deck, panels of thin metal are disposed transversely of the rafters and extend to the several supporting rafters and are secured at their ends thereto. It has been the usual practice to provide these roof panels at their ends with upstanding risers which abut substantially midway the rafters and are supported by the latter, the said abutting ends being heretofore connected by metallic clips which have proven difficult to apply and for additional reasons have not proven satisfactory. The present invention involves structure which may be quickly and successfully operated by simple means to effectively as well as rigidly connect the abutting ends of the roof panels and to seal the said abutting edges in such manner as to preclude the entrance of rain or moisture through the connection.

The primary object of the invention is to entirely eliminate the necessity for separate clips or attaching devices for the abutting edges of roof panels and to provide means rigidly connected to or integral with the rafters for quickly and easily efiectuating the proper joining of the roof panels.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof frame work prior to the application of the roof panels and illustrating the general location and arrangement of the rafter tabs for effecting the connection of the abutting ends of the roof panels,

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a portion of one of the roof rafters and illustrating in section the connection of the abutting ends of roof panels supported by the rafter,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in section a part of the rafter, the abutting roof panel ends, the connecting tabs and the roofing cleat,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, parts broken away, of a portion of the assembled roof structure and illustrating the manner in which the tabs bring about interlocking of the abutting ends of the roof panels,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating how the rafter tabs are bent over the abutting ends of roof sections to secure them together.

3,115,728 Patented Dec. 31, 1963 "ice Referring now more particularly to the drawing, 10 represents one side fascia of the frame structure and 11 is a front fascia. While the drawing does not so illustrate, it. will be understood that a similar side fascia 10 will be disposed at the opposite side of the roof frame in true parallelism and a duplicate of the front fascia will be disposed at the opposite end of the frame in parallelism. These members are made of suitable light metal taking any desired ornamental shape and are rigidly connected by bolts 12 to bring about a rigid frame work. This frame also includes transverse rafters represented generally at 13, arranged in spaced apart relationship throughout the length of the roof frame and connected at their ends rigidly to the side fascia by means of bolts indicated at 14. These rafters are made of suitable metal of lightweight but rigid construction, a detail of which is shown more particularly in FIG. 5 of the drawings. -In this figure, the rafter comprises a pair of sheet metal plates of approximately C-shape, arranged back to back and rigidly connected together by rivets 15 or in any other desired manner. In its completed form, the rafter resembles an I beam, and in addition to rigidifying the frame structure, affords support for the roof panels. The height of the rafters permits of their insertion within the side fascia to permit of their being rigidly connected thereto in the manner heretofore stated.

The upper laterally directed flanges 16 of each rafter are provided with rigidly connected flexible tabs indicated at 17. These tabs will be so located throughout the length of each rafter as to assure their bases or connecting points with the flanges to be at the juncture of the abutting ends of the roof or deck plates to be superimposed upon the rafters. In the present instance, these tabs are made by cutting the flange portion 16 longitudinally in spaced parallelism and laterally across an end, leaving the base of the tab permanently connected with and forming an integral part of the rafter. The base portions of the tabs 17 in each rafter are in lateral alignment with one another at substantially the juncture of the abutting ends of the roof panels to be connected.

The roof panels are made of flat thin metal plates 18 having their ends provided with a riser 19 at right angles to the plate, and the upper end of this riser is provided with an inturned portion or flange 20 at right angles to the riser. The height of the risers 19 is slightly less than the length of the tabs from their bases to their ends, so that when the tabs are bent to vertical position, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1, the extremities of the tabs will project beyond the inturned flanges 20* of the risers.

With the frame constructed and assembled in the manner specified, the roof sections, formed as described, are laid upon the rafters with their ends in abutting engagement at substantially the juncture of the bases of the tabs with their respective rafters. With the tabs in upright position, they will extend between the said abutting ends and then may be bent laterally in opposite directions, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4 so as to overlie the upper edges of the raisers 19 and to lie flat upon the inwardly directed flanges 20 of the respective abutting panels. When thus connected, a roof cleat indicated at 21 is slid longitudinally of the abuting end of the roof panels so as to enclose the ends of the flanges 20, to enclose the ends of the tabs 17, and to securely hold'the roof sections together and to seal their juncture against the ingress of mosture or other matter. From this description it is obvious that the roof rafters so constructed may readily accommodate and secure the abutting roof panel ends in tight engagement without the necessity of separate clips or other fasteners heretofore used including screws, rivets, and other such attaching devices. The roof sections may be quickly and easily assembled by simple procedure with the assurance of snug fitting of the roof panels properly upon the frame, at the same time providing means whereby moisture will be prevented having access to the underside of the roof. Should repair or replacement of one or more of the panels become necessary, withdrawing of the roofing cleat will render easy access to the aflected panels either for the purposes of their repair or replacement.

I claim:

1. Roof deck, support and attaching means, comprising a rafter of relatively thin metal having laterally and oppositely directed flanges at its upper end, bendable tabs cut from said flanges and arranged in pairs spaced apart predetermined distances lengthwise of said rafter, the tabs of each pair disposed opposite to one another with their inner ends fixed to their respective flanges in spaced substantial alignment laterally of said rafter and one on each side of the longitudinal median line thereof, roof deck sections disposed transversely of and resting throughout their widths upon said rafter with their adjacent transverse edges in close proximity to one another and abutting the fixed end portions of said tabs, risers extending upwardly from the adjacent edges of adjacent roof deck sections and each having an inwardly directed flange at its upper end, the tabs of each pair extending upwardly between the risers of the adjacent deck sections with their upper ends deflected lengthwise of the rafter in opposite directions and engaging the upper surfaces of said inwardly directed flanges, a substantially flat sheet-metal roofing cleat adapted for endwise application and provided with reentrant longitudinal edge portions which engage the undersides of said inwardly directed riser flanges of the adjacent roof deck sections with the central portion thereof contacting the deflected portions of said tabs.

2. Roof deck, support and attaching means, comprising a rafter of relatively thin metal and having a web of dual thickness with laterally and oppositely directed flanges at its upper end, bendable tabs cut from said flanges and arranged in pairs spaced apart predetermined distances lengthwise of said rafter, the tabs of each pair disposed opposite to one another with their inner ends fixed to their respective flanges in spaced substantial alignment laterally of said rafter and one on each side of the longitudinal median line thereof, roof deck sections disposed transversely of and resting throughout their widths upon said rafter with their adjacent transverse edges in close proximity to one another and abutting the fixed end portions of said tabs, risers extending upwardly from the adjacent edges of adjacent roof deck sections and each having an inwardly directed flange at its upper end, the tabs of each pair extending upwardly between the risers of the adjacent deck sections with their upper ends deflected lengthwise of the rafter in opposite directions and engaging the upper surfaces of said inwardly directed flanges, a substantially flat sheet-metal roofing cleat adapted for endwise application and provided with reentrant longitudinal edge portions which engage the undersides of said inwardly directed riser flanges of the adjacent roof deck sections with the central portion thereof contacting the deflected portions of said tabs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,240,773 Perry Sept. 18, 1917 1,768,626 Pedersen July 1, 1930 2,697,407 Tyree Dec. 21, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 510,497 Belgium Apr. 30, 1952 

1. ROOF DECK, SUPPORT AND ATTACHING MEANS, COMPRISING A RAFTER OF RELATIVELY THIN METAL HAVING LATERALLY AND OPPOSITELY DIRECTED FLANGES AT ITS UPPER END, BENDABLE TABS CUT FROM SAID FLANGES AND ARRANGED IN PAIRS SPACED APART PREDETERMINED DISTANCES LENGTHWISE OF SAID RAFTER, THE TABS OF EACH PAIR DISPOSED OPPOSITE TO ONE ANOTHER WITH THEIR INNER ENDS FIXED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE FLANGES IN SPACED SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT LATERALLY OF SAID RAFTER AND ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL MEDIAN LINE THEREOF, ROOF DECK SECTIONS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF AND RESTING THROUGHOUT THEIR WIDTHS UPON SAID RAFTER WITH THEIR ADJACENT TRANSVERSE EDGES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER AND ABUTTING THE FIXED END PORTIONS OF SAID TABS, RISERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE ADJACENT EDGES OF ADJACENT ROOF DECK SECTIONS AND EACH HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGE AT ITS UPPER END, THE TABS OF EACH PAIR EXTENDING UPWARDLY BETWEEN THE RISERS OF THE ADJACENT DECK SECTIONS WITH THEIR UPPER ENDS DEFLECTED LENGTHWISE OF THE RAFTER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND ENGAGING THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGES, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SHEET-METAL ROOFING CLEAT ADAPTED FOR ENDWISE APPLICATION AND PROVIDED WITH REENTRANT LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS WHICH ENGAGE THE UNDERSIDES OF SAID INWARDLY DIRECTED RISER FLANGES OF THE ADJACENT ROOF DECK SECTIONS WITH THE CENTRAL PORTION THEREOF CONTACTING THE DEFLECTED PORTIONS OF SAID TABS. 